Introduction: Nushabad (Persian: نوش آباد‎, also Romanized as Nūshābād and Noshābād)[Noosh Abad underground city adjoining the Central Desert of Iran consists of many labyrinthic corridors, rooms and wells. The history of the complex backs to pre-Islamic era and was mainly used for sheltering and defense purposes extended up to recent centuries. Entrances to the city were from population concentration points like water reservoirs, markets, fortress and also some individual houses.

At the moment visitors can enter the city from two entrances both opened adjacent to two old water reservoirs. All the photos are taken on hand, no flash.

At least since 1500 year ago, in Sassanian period (224-637 CE), people at this part of Iran who had the fear of being invaded by some foreigners started to think how they could escape such unwanted death. Fleeing to the mountains and shifting from settled life to nomadic life has been an option.

The handmade complex spread under the city in thousands of sq. meters, in depth of 4 to 18 meters.

There are many spaces within the city, each consist of interconnected, 180 cm height rooms for temporary settlement connecting through angled corridors (preventing direct sight), toilets, supply stocks and guarding place.

Lighting was provided by fat burning lamps. The city was built in 3 stories, each part 3 to 5 meters in depth connecting via some narrow manholes. The architecture of the stories dictates upward movement providing maximum protection against invaders. Delaying any enemy penetration was performed by anticipating some physical obstacles and traps, in conjunction with darkness. Natural air conditioning and water supply of the city are among its ancient engineering wonders.

However, once Nosh Abad inhabitants felt the threat of some invaders coming to their area, they went into some wells to get their hideouts. At the bottom, these shafts lead to the connected network of corridors, chambers, more downward wells, etc. From the top, it looked like it’s another dry well in this desert town.

The depth of the wells had been decided in a way that they didn’t reach the water tables or wet grounds, but they were deep enough to be accepted as an ordinary well. Such shafts led people to the floor -1. There are 3 other floors underneath such level meaning other wells had been dug as down as -4 floor to which people could go down and seek shelter.

They had to think about having food to eat and water to drink. So, there must have been some reserves of foodstuff as well. Light and air are two other important factors essential to the people who stayed down there during the hiding.

Ancient Iranians already had the know-how required to make such underground network of corridors and arrange for some temporary residence at the times of invasion. This was not a foreign concept to them at all.

When people arrived in the underground network of corridors and chambers, each had a space with their families. This is what one may conclude by looking at the structure or architecture of such dug-out corridors and recessed spaces.

From human point of view and considering the horrified life people could have lived here, one really feels sorry for the things happening to these people back in the tense history of this country. Just imagine you had to take your family with you into such holes and spend some time, short or long, into such chambers and ask them to keep quiet and pray for their lives!

The history of mankind shows a lot of such brutal invasions and loss of lots of innocent civilians’ lives who are not beneficiaries in either cases of victory or defeat. On the contrary, in both cases, they lose, suffer and go down.

From innovation point of view, once the need to survive presses upon you, you will come up with solutions. As a hard-working nation with 1000s of years of background in engineering and architecture, Iranians have managed to survive putting into action such experiences form other projects and similar occasions.

From resistance point of view, Iranians have always shown how steadfast they are in defending themselves and creating life in very unfriendly conditions. Oasis settlements in the hearts of deserts are great examples of bringing water, life, to the middle of literally nowhere.

When you travel in Iran and come across a green patch in the middle of a vast desert, there must have been some Kariz system already dug out since several centuries ago by our ancestors to bring water to that spot.

Noosh Abad ancient underground city isn’t the only example of such resistance and ambition to survive. There are other similar networks found in other parts of Iran as well. (Source: destinationiran.com)

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Location: Aran va Bidgol County, Isfahan Province

Days of trip: (Without air plane) 1-2 Days from Tehran to Tehran (Without heavy traffic you need About 4-5 hr driving from Tehran to Noosh Abad) Attention: In holidays there is heavy traffic in all roads around Tehran.

How to get there:1- Go to Baihaghi terminal of buses in Tehran (more info2- Take a bus ticket to Kashan.(Distance between Tehran to Kashan is 245 Km)3- Take a taxi from Kashan to Noosh Abad.(Distance between Kashan to Noosh Abad is 8 Km)

Noosh Abad underground city adjoining the Central Desert of Iran consists of many labyrinthic corridors, rooms and wells. The history of the complex backs to pre-Islamic era and was mainly used for sheltering and defense purposes extended up to recent centuries. Entrances to the city were from population concentration points like water reservoirs, markets, fortress and also some individual houses.

At the moment visitors can enter the city from two entrances both opened adjacent to two old water reservoirs. All the photos are taken on hand, no flash.

Water reservoir (outside)At least since 1500 year ago, in Sassanian period (224-637 CE), people at this part of Iran who had the fear of being invaded by some foreigners started to think how they could escape such unwanted death. Fleeing to the mountains and shifting from settled life to nomadic life has been an option.

The handmade complex spread under the city in thousands of sq. meters, in depth of 4 to 18 meters.

There are many spaces within the city, each consist of interconnected, 180 cm height rooms for temporary settlement connecting through angled corridors (preventing direct sight), toilets, supply stocks and guarding place.

One of the underground roomsLighting was provided by fat burning lamps. The city was built in 3 stories, each part 3 to 5 meters in depth connecting via some narrow manholes. The architecture of the stories dictates upward movement providing maximum protection against invaders. Delaying any enemy penetration was performed by anticipating some physical obstacles and traps, in conjunction with darkness. Natural air conditioning and water supply of the city are among its ancient engineering wonders.

However, once Nosh Abad inhabitants felt the threat of some invaders coming to their area, they went into some wells to get their hideouts. At the bottom, these shafts lead to the connected network of corridors, chambers, more downward wells, etc. From the top, it looked like it’s another dry well in this desert town.

Manhole to lower StageThe depth of the wells had been decided in a way that they didn’t reach the water tables or wet grounds, but they were deep enough to be accepted as an ordinary well. Such shafts led people to the floor -1. There are 3 other floors underneath such level meaning other wells had been dug as down as -4 floor to which people could go down and seek shelter.

They had to think about having food to eat and water to drink. So, there must have been some reserves of foodstuff as well. Light and air are two other important factors essential to the people who stayed down there during the hiding.

Ancient Iranians already had the know-how required to make such underground network of corridors and arrange for some temporary residence at the times of invasion. This was not a foreign concept to them at all.

When people arrived in the underground network of corridors and chambers, each had a space with their families. This is what one may conclude by looking at the structure or architecture of such dug-out corridors and recessed spaces.

From human point of view and considering the horrified life people could have lived here, one really feels sorry for the things happening to these people back in the tense history of this country. Just imagine you had to take your family with you into such holes and spend some time, short or long, into such chambers and ask them to keep quiet and pray for their lives!

The history of mankind shows a lot of such brutal invasions and loss of lots of innocent civilians’ lives who are not beneficiaries in either cases of victory or defeat. On the contrary, in both cases, they lose, suffer and go down.

From innovation point of view, once the need to survive presses upon you, you will come up with solutions. As a hard-working nation with 1000s of years of background in engineering and architecture, Iranians have managed to survive putting into action such experiences form other projects and similar occasions.

Stone cap of inter level manholeFrom resistance point of view, Iranians have always shown how steadfast they are in defending themselves and creating life in very unfriendly conditions. Oasis settlements in the hearts of deserts are great examples of bringing water, life, to the middle of literally nowhere.

When you travel in Iran and come across a green patch in the middle of a vast desert, there must have been some Kariz system already dug out since several centuries ago by our ancestors to bring water to that spot.

Noosh Abad ancient underground city isn’t the only example of such resistance and ambition to survive. There are other similar networks found in other parts of Iran as well. (Source: destinationiran.com)

Nooshabad is a city 8 kilometers north of Kashan. Early this century, an underground city was discovered underneath it which was a manmade complex spread across thousands of square meters. The city consists of many labyrinth-like architectural structures, corridors, rooms and wells.

The history of the complex dates back to the pre-Islamic era, and was mainly used for sheltering and defense purposes. The city was built in 3 stories, the deepest at a depth of 13 meters, and each story 3 to 5 meters apart and connected to neighboring stories through vertical and horizontal canals. Entrances to the city were from population concentration points such as water reservoirs, markets, fortresses and also some individual houses. Except for the main entrance, all the other parts of the city were about 170-180 centimeters in height to let people pass without any problem. Some raised platforms were created in some walls for people to be able to sit. Rooms were connected through angled corridors (preventing direct sight) and also had access to toilets, supply stocks and a guarding place. Lighting was provided by fat burning lamps.

Natural air conditioning and water supply of the city are among its ancient engineering wonders. The ventilation system used in the underground city through devising canals made it possible for the refugees to breathe even at a depth of 20 meters below the ground. A large number of historic evidence including earthenware vessels and stone instruments ranging in date to Sassanid (224-651 AD), Ilkhanid (1256-1336), and Safavid (1501-1736 AD) dynastic periods have been retrieved from the underground city.

After three seasons of performing archeological studies, tourists can once again visit the city from entrances adjacent to two old water reservoirs. Some facilities such as a teahouse in the first floor of this underground city have been prepared to welcome visitors and tour guides will be stationed at Nooshabad to explain some historic facts about this stunning underground city.

A defunct sewage system has been posing a fatal threat to the underground city in Nooshabad. Locals have dug out wells in order to dump their sewage and now the leakage is threatening the underground city, having damaged some walls and providing a habitat for pests. Ironically such illegal excavations were how the underground city was discovered to begin with. It was estimated that building a new sewage system would require over $500,000 of public funds.

Nooshabad Underground City is located near Kashan, Isfahan province, and 5 km from Aran-Bidgol.It showcases artworks made during various eras, including Seljuk and Qajar dynasties.In fact, the underground city comprises compact and complicated structures such as adjoining vestibules.There are remains of tallow-burners on the walls and places built inside the walls for sitting.The plan to start new excavations in this historical site was approved and the fifth excavation phase started as of August 2104 after a lapse of eight years.According to new researches, this underground city dates back to eras even before Sassanid dynasty.The city, spread over four kilometers, has been dug in three floors underground for remaining immune from theft and plunder.Abbas Shafeie, manager of Nooshabad Underground City, said, “Parts of the underground city were discovered during 2002-04. An archeological team, headed by Zahra Sarookhani, conducted excavations in the underground city during 2004. The credit was secured by Nooshabad Municipality and Iran’s Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization.The fourth phase started but could not be continued due to the firmness of soil.Shafeie said the discharge of household wastewater into this historical site is a major problem.In olden times, people had to dig deep wells under their houses. Therefore, the well diggers connected most of the wells to the underground city.Shafeie also said the leaching pits were dug for some houses in recent years to dredge the routes of underground city and prevent it from further destruction.However, an urban sewage system is required to address the huge volume of wastewater being discharged in the site.Nooshabad City Council and Municipality pursued the implementation of urban sewage system. The project was approved, but no credit has been allocated to it.The project is to be implemented jointly by ICHHTO, Nooshabad Municipality and Water and Wastewater Company.Implementation of the project will ease archeological excavations in the region and help open the routes of the underground city.Shafe’ei attributed the durability of the underground city to the firm clay soil.In addition, humidity and moisture have made the soil more resistant and sticky, contributing to its durability.“Currently we need to establish hygrometers at the site to maintain it, because timely control of the humidity would prevent it from drying up and collapsing,” he said.Nooshabad Underground City was been established during the Sassanid era and thrived during the Safavid era.Old residents of Nooshabad say the underground city terminates at Niasar in Kashan. In olden times, people used to go to Niasar Cave through Nooshabad Underground City.